Internal police probe of Peterson will not lead to criminal charges

Wednesday

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2007 at 6:17 AM

Potential criminal charges against former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson stemming from a recent Bolingbrook Police Department internal investigation are unlikely, the Will County State’s Attorney said Tuesday.

Potential criminal charges against former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson stemming from a recent Bolingbrook Police Department internal investigation are unlikely, the Will County State’s Attorney said Tuesday.

According to Chuck Pelkie, spokesman for Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, “There have been discussions (between Glasgow and Bolingbrook Police Chief Ray McGury) but at this time the information passed on to us does not warrant criminal charges.”

Last week the Bolingbrook Police Department — which had conducted its own internal investigation into Peterson’s on-duty performance — issued information to the state’s attorney’s office to see if criminal charges could be placed against Peterson.

Prior to submitting information to the state’s attorney, the Bolingbrook Police Department had submitted the same information to the Bolingbrook Fire and Police Board in an attempt to have disciplinary action taken against Peterson.

But on Nov. 20 the board accepted Peterson’s resignation and took no further disciplinary action.

Peterson, a 29-year veteran of the Bolingbrook Police Department, tendered a letter of resignation Nov. 12, and the board’s attorney said once Peterson resigned the board no longer had authority to take disciplinary action.

The department’s internal investigation focused on violations of Police Department policies and procedures and had nothing to do with the Stacy Peterson or Kathleen Savio cases, said Lt. Ken Teppel, spokesman for the Bolingbrook Police Department.

The Police Department said it had gathered enough information on Peterson’s on-duty performance the last 12 months to warrant him being fired, and after the board accepted Peterson’s resignation McGury stated “We wanted him fired. ... He is a disgrace.”

“The state’s attorney has the final oversight of potential cases and we certainly respect their decision, and are thankful they took the time to examine the facts,” Teppel said.

Peterson is a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy Peterson, and the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

The Illinois State Police, now being aided by the FBI, are currently investigating both cases.